Sentimentality, Pomp and Circumstance
I’ve always had a strong interest in American history, especially, from World War II forward. As a young man, I had envisioned myself entering politics in some form or manner, but ultimately settled for business in the supermarket industry which was probably the best course for me to follow as being a lawyer in politics isn’t very well respected today as it was “back in the day”.
The Baby Boomer’s ancestry suggests he’s 1/16th Virginia Cherokee Indian. This may attribute to the fact that during the Spring, Summer, and Fall of my life, I’ve not shown much emotion shedding very few tears. However, now that I’m in the Winter of my life, I find myself often tearing up over almost anything as I’ve become extremely sentimental.
Recently, I’ve found myself with tears merely by holding La Bear’s hand, looking at the sweet innocent face of Master M, and seeing the movies “The Sound of Music”, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, and “To Kill a Mockingbird”. I’ve grown to appreciate the truly sensational acting not only from Gregory Peck (who won the Academy Award), but from each cast member portrayed in the movie!
Additionally, this week, I became “weepy-eyed” for the pomp and circumstance exercised while celebrating the life of President Jimmy Carter. As you know, I’m not the proud American I once was, as our society as I knew it has all but disappeared, but the disciplined precise protocol we practice from start to finish in a funeral for the president of the United States is amazing and astonishing beyond words. Just to witness how our military’s Honor Guard performs their duties to such perfection is so mind-boggling. It was very cold in Washington yesterday and the wind was really whipping which had to be extremely challenging for all those remaining to stand at attention. The sailor in charge of holding the presidential flag in the sustained whipping wind was especially impressive. I know it takes a special human being and the demands on one’s life are extreme in being chosen as a member of our Honor Guard, but as an American, I felt honored to witness their professionalism throughout the ceremonies and the personal sacrifices they make.
As a side note, it’s always a bit interesting to see at a presidential funeral ceremony how all the former presidents of the United States seemingly get along so well, are both friendly and gracious.
President Carter lived a well-lived life committing it to his church, family, and public service which today are fleeting qualities. I was a bit taken and surprised finding how close he and President Gerald Ford were throughout their post-presidential lives. President Ford was indeed another man who dedicated his life to public service. Both he and Carter seemingly had little concern for themselves, but, instead, was much more interested in caring for their fellow man which is certainly commendable.
Exploring the history of those Lying in State at the Capitol so the citizenry can pay their final respects number just forty-six individuals of which twelve were presidents of the United States. Two of those forty-six, Senator Robert Dole (December, 2021) and Senator Daniel Inouye (December, 2012), being members of the greatest generation, whose histories was of particular interest to me as both were veterans of World War II and sustained severe injury which presented physical challenge for the rest of their entire lives.
Senator Dole, who served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate representing Kansas from 1961-1996, was seriously wounded during World War II in April, 1945 as a second lieutenant while fighting in Italy. He was struck in his upper back by a German shell also damaging his right arm, breaking his collarbone, and fracturing his spine. He was supposed to die from his wounds, but after months of recuperation, he survived having limited mobility in his right arm and numbness in his left. Dole received two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, ran for both Vice President and President of the United States, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1997. He passed away in 2021 at the age of 98.
Senator Inouye served in that role representing Hawaii from 1963 until his death in 2012 at age 88. He, too, was wounded five times in April, 1945 as a second lieutenant in Italy during World War II. He led his platoon of Japanese Americans destroying two of three machine gun nests. While attempting alone to destroy the third machine gun nest, he was hit by a rifle grenade which amputated most of his right arm leaving the live grenade lodged in his arm where somehow, he grabbed the grenade with his left hand and threw it into the machine gun nest destroying it just before being shot in his left leg. He survived after twenty months of rehabilitation losing his right arm. Inouye should have received the Medal of Honor for his heroics, but did not due to his Japanese American heritage which caused him to be discriminated. However, he was finally awarded the Medal of Honor in 2000 and later awarded posthumously the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
The irony between Senators Dole and Inouye is that they recuperated from their wounds together at the Percy Jones Army Hospital in Michigan now renamed the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center and both came to the conclusion that they would dedicate their lives to public service which, of course, they did.
This is certainly a wonderful story of two men who lived well-lived lives worthy of a few sentimental patriotic tears. It’s such a shame that those like Carter, Ford, Dole, and Inouye, who dedicated their lives to public service and truly made a difference, are a dying breed.
I, now in my sentimental years, look back and wish I’d dedicated myself to a life of public service instead of “sipping the corporate Kool-Aid”. At the time, I felt I was doing important work which made a difference in people’s lives, but, upon reflection, it really only a job as appropriately pointed out by La Bear!